"Even Moms of Two Can Win": Miss USA Crowns First-Ever Mother as Winner After 71 Years of Rule Change

First Winner After Lifting Bans on Marriage, Motherhood, and Age

In 1957, a Married Mother Was Disqualified for the Title

For the first time in the history of Miss USA, one of the most prominent beauty pageants in the United States, a 31-year-old married woman and mother has won the crown. The winner is Justus Kelly, representing the state of Virginia.

Fox News reported on the 19th (local time) an interview with Kelly, the winner of the 75th Miss USA, which was held in Miami, Florida, on August 27, 2026.

Kelly became the first married woman, mother, and woman in her 30s to win Miss USA all at once in the pageant's history. She is a foster parent to two children, has established a nonprofit organization dedicated to children, and is also a children’s book author.

In her interview, Kelly revealed that her preparation for the pageant differed from that of previous participants. She utilized her children’s nap times for exercise and preparation; she practiced her walk while carrying her child in a carrier, and did squats in the living room. She even rehearsed interviews while feeding her child. She explained, "This is the stage of life I am at, which means I simply couldn’t dedicate my entire day to preparation," emphasizing that she found practical ways to get ready alongside her family. She also shared that her husband of nine years was a major source of support throughout her preparation for the tournament.

Justus Kelly becomes the first married woman with children to win Miss USA. Screenshot from Miss USA Instagram

Kelly stated that women should not have to choose between family, career, and their personal dreams, saying, "We can embrace every aspect of ourselves." She added that her victory sends the message that you can continue to pursue new dreams even after getting married and having children.

Miss USA, which began in 1952, originally limited its participants to unmarried women. In 1957, Maryland representative Mary Leona Gage won the title, but it was later revealed she was married and the mother of two sons. As a result, her title was revoked. It was also discovered that Gage had misstated her age as 21, older than her real age. The crown was then passed on to first runner-up Charlotte Sheffield of Utah.

At the time, Time magazine, an American weekly news magazine, described Miss USA as a competition "effectively to select the most beautiful unmarried woman in America." The contest strongly emphasized women's appearance and physical attributes as key aspects of the competition. Contestants were judged in swimsuits, and their looks and body measurements were introduced in detail.

A strict age restriction also remained in place for many years. Miss USA had set an upper age limit of 28 for its contestants, but changed the rules in 2023, removing this restriction. Since then, women aged 18 and older have been eligible to participate without an upper age limit, and married women have also been allowed to enter. As of now, Miss USA permits entry regardless of marital status—including single, married, widowed, or divorced—and there are no restrictions based on whether or not a woman has children.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.